Not many teams even use a FB anymore so I guess they felt more comfortable with who they had. If you watched Hard Knocks the Bengals went with that TE/FB hybrid because he was more versatile and younger. I agree Connor should stay over Hynoski though

They're not going to tip their hand now. We're going to have to wait until after the season to see how it plays out. This will be the most interesting offseason we've had since Coughlin was hired/Eli was drafted. A close second would be the year we signed Plax/McKenzie/Pierce.

Correct BBD. I know we do have a history of playing our rookies but it's usually last case scenario when they're forced to. I didnt like the Nassib pick by Reese but know is the time to play him and let him get his feet weet just a little. Give him the 2nd half against the Lions and 3 quarters against the Skins. I'd say give him both games but Eli has the streak going.

No Reese wants Coughlin to play young guys more often and Coughlin simply refuses to.

That's the disconnect.

No, the disconnect is personnel also. We drafted Beckum, for 3rd downs, and in cold weather he can pick up the first downs. However, we don't use an H back in our system. We use a traditional 2 way TE, who is built, 6'5 or taller, weighing 255-270 lbs. That's not beckum. So in theory Reese got us player A, but player A doesn't fit our system. Barden was a tall red zone threat, but how many times have we used him in the red zone?

We drafted Wilson to throw to and be that home run talent. However, our backs have to pass block often and be good to it. So a player who didn't do that often was drafted and plugged into our system. We signed FA Myers, excellent TE in a WCO system, that is called upon to run routes and not block often. What do we do? Again, our TEs have to block often because we preach balance. So that was a fail.

So it seems along the way front office has a vision of one thing, and in reality that vision isn't supported or feasible when these players enter our system.

Basically long story short Coughlin is a dinosaur who won't adjust his schemes or philosophy to adapt to players.

That's both on Reese and Coughlin. Coughlin is to blame bc he refuses to adjust, and Reese is to blame bc he keeps drafting players that doesn't fit the system and hopes Coughlin will adjust to make it work.

I blame Reese more. Coughlin's system is a proven winner. Whether we like it or not. Reese has to get him players to make it work.

Reese isn't a coach. If Reese has a system he wants to run, then Coughlin has to go and Reese needs to hire a coach to match his vision. However we all know that isn't happening. He can't keep giving him square pegs for round holes.

To be fair, during both our SB runs, Coughlin adjusted his systems to help the team and we went on our runs.

For example in 2011 Fewell dumbed down the defense to prevent communication breakdowns and we magically caught fire on the way to the SB.

In 07 Coughlin shortened the pass game and Eli got into a rhythm.

So does the system really work as well as we think? Bc we didn't make the playoffs for all the other years in btw, and the 2 times we go on to make the playoffs and win the SB was bc the coaching staff finally caved in and adjusted their systems.